It is the simplest things in life that are the most beautiful.
The most special moments in life are those that require no money, only heart.
And the petri dish of those multiplying moments is often the dinner table. With the exception of Friday night movie night, every meal centers around the table in our house.
Here is why...
A Mama in the kitchen preparing homecooked food, meals made with "Mama sugar" (bits of love poured by the cupful) for her loves, conveys the message "I work happily for YOU to meet your needs".
Taking time to ENJOY the food helps the cook feel appreciated. It is a nonverbal "Thank you for your hard work. I appreciate it."
Waiting to eat until Papa comes home, well past dark and long after bellies begin their first rumbles, says "Papa, dinner wouldn't be the same without you and you are worth the wait."
Gathering round the table, looking into each others' eyes instead of a TV screen, shows that "YOU are what is important this moment."
Laughing and sharing together makes it obvious that "what you are thinking MATTERS, and we care".
Bowed heads and spoken prayers teach that thankfulness to the Giver and reliance upon Him ought to be the center of everything.
The Liturgy of dinnertime...
Faith and thanks directed to God in prayer.
Strengthening, deepening and enriching the family through communion and fellowship with one another.
All to soon, the approaching end circles round again to the beginning; that is, directed to God and our worship of Him. Matt's voice, comfortable and reassuring, reads scripture. Big and little voices marry with boisterous song, hands meet with loud, rhythmic claps, all the while lips curl and eyes twinkle with merriment. Then heads bow low again in reverent conversation with Father God.
Something would be sorely lacking.
And that is how I feel when Mattie is out of town: it almost aches to sit down "together" while the seat at the head of the table is empty.
So glad it is almost over.
We miss you so.
3 comments:
I really loved this reminder. I can't imagine having our papa gone for dinners. It almost never happens. The struggle in our home is the "cranky hours" that our 6 month old goes through between 5 and 8.
Aww . . . that was just precious! You described the family table in such a beautiful way! Thank you for posting that, dinner time with the whole family is such a wonderful part of the day!
Oh, and is that a Psalter I see there on the table? ;)
I love that top picture, especially. John unexpectedly worked the day shift today and all morning I've been anticipating eating supper together.
This post beautifully reinforces the reasons why family meals are so important, and even though it makes me long for what we don't have with regularity anymore, thanks for writing this. (And we don't even usually sing together at supper!)
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